CONTEXT: Several international studies have observed a correlation between the improvement of socio-demographic indicators and rates of incidence and mortality from cancer of the colon and rectum. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to estimate the correlation between average per capita income and the rate of colorectal cancer mortality in Brazil between 2001 and 2009. METHODS: We obtained data on income inequality (Gini index), population with low incomes (½ infer the minimum wage/month), average family income, per capita ICP and mortality from colon cancer and straight between 2001-2009 by DATASUS...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: endoscopic polypectomy may allow curative resection of invasive adenocarcinoma on colorectal adenoma. Our goal was to determine the factors associated with complete endoscopic resection of invasive adenocarcinoma. METHODS: retrospective observational study. We included 151 patients with invasive adenocarcinoma on adenomas endoscopically resected between 1999 and 2009. We determined those variables independently related to incomplete resection by a logistic regression...

BACKGROUND: Observational studies show that folate levels may be associated with the development of adenomas and colorectal cancer, suggesting that folic acid supplementation may have a preventive effect. AIM: Systematic review of scientific evidence from randomized placebo-controlled clinical studies to identify the effects of folic acid supplementation on the recurrence of colorectal adenomas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Medline via Pubmed systematic review of randomized clinical trials, double-blind and placebo-controlled and references, specifically to evaluate the effect of acid supplementation on the recurrence of colorectal adenomas...

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has become a highly relevant condition nowadays. In this respect, advances in the understanding of its molecular basis are key for an adequate management. From the time when the adenoma-carcinoma sequence was formulated as a carcinogenesis model to this day, when -among other things- three major carcinogenic pathways have been identified, the CRC concept has evolved from that of a single disease to the notion that each CRC is a differentiated condition in itself. The suppressor or chromosome instability pathway, the mutator or microsatellite instability pathway, and the methylator or CpG island methylation pathway allow various phenotypes to be identified within CRC...

Malignant melanoma of the colon and rectum is an infrequent disease. Primary anorectal melanoma accounts for 0.1-4.6% of all malignant neoplasms of the anal canal. Melanoma metastatic to the colon is symptomatic only in 4.4% of patients with a primary melanoma at another site and most of these tumors are diagnosed postmortem. We report two cases of colorrectal malignant melanoma. The first case concerned a patient with rectal bleeding who was diagnosed with a rectal lesion compatible with melanoma. Abdominoperineal resection was performed due to positivity of the sentinel lymph node...

BACKGROUND: Several studies evaluating colorectal cancer (CRC) screening with fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) have reported a significant reduction in mortality from this tumor. The study aims to describe the results of the first round of the CRC screening program in medium-risk population of Valencia and assessing their feasibility and acceptability. METHODS: Colorectal cancer screening pilot study using biennial FOBT. All residents (106,000 Inhabitants) between 50 and 69 years old (a subgroup of 70-74 years), from 3 selected health departments (04, 07 and 13) were invited by mail to participate...

Metastasis to regional lymph nodes, after distant metastasis, is the most important prognostic factor of colorectal carcinomas. It is also of primary importance in decisions related to the administration of adjuvant treatments. Most scientific associations recommend the examination of at least 12 lymph nodes for the reliable determination of the absence of nodal metastases. We performed a literature review on lymph node recovery in order to determine whether 12 is the minimum and optimal number of lymph nodes to be examined after colorrectal cancer surgery...

OBJECTIVE: To determine if an experimental model is valid for the study of perianastomotic recurrence in colorectal cancer, comparing it with previous experimental models. METHODS: Experimental study with 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats, assigned to one of the study groups: control group (n = 20), with manipulation of large descending bowel, and colonic anastomosis group (n = 20), with colonic section and colocolic anastomosis. After pharmacological carcinogenesis with 1-2 dimethylhydrazine at a weekly dose of 25 mg/kg for 18 weeks, colonic tumours were studied at the 20th postoperative week...

A series of 84 patients operated on for colorrectal cancer-Duke's stages A:6, B:22, C:51 and D:5- are studied prospectively and with a 5 year follow-up. All of them were treated in the same hospital and with identical criteria during a period of time of two years. Immunoglobulins (A, G, M) and skin reactivity measured through a multiantigen device were determined preoperatively and at 48 hours and 30 days after operation. Data analysis was done once real survival at 5 years was known. Immunoglobulins changes showed no significance in relation to survival in this series...

It seems logical to think that the longer the interval between the patient's first symptom of colorrectal cancer and operation, the greater the tumoral extension found by the surgeon will be, and the lower the postoperative survival. Nevertheless, there is much evidence to indicate that this may not always be true. We've analyzed the problem in 307 patients operated of colorectal cancer in our service from January 1979 to December 1984 and followed-up until now. We investigated the time interval from the first clinical symptom until operation, and survival...

Cox regression analysis was used in the study of 151 cases of surgically treated colorrectal carcinoma. A "curative" resection was performed in all of them. Clinical data from medical records, histology, biochemical determinations, and intraoperative findings were assessed. Four of the studied variables were significantly related to tumor recurrence: Dukes stage, tumor spread, histological variety and preoperative CEA level. Age, sex, tumor location, surgical technique, lymphocytes in the peripheral blood, preoperative levels of acute phase reactants and hepatic enzymes did not provide information about the final outcome of these patients...